Breaking: Nigeria’s Ambassador To US, Nsofor Dies |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America, USA, Hon. Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor is dead.

He died yesterday in Maryland, US.

A native of Imo State, Justice Nsofor, a retired Judge of the Court of Appeal  was appointed Ambassador to the US by President Muhammadu Buhari. He assumed office in    December of 2017.

Given his age, 84 years, then, his appointment had taken Nigerians unawares, and had shocked many.

The Senate had initially rejected to confirm him over his age, and what they, allegedly, termed his inability to get a grasp of a couple of questions. But the President insisted on him, thus, compelling the Senate to confirm him.

Many were aghast when the President posted him to unarguably, Nigeria’s most important mission.

Unconfirmed reports say the President first took notice of Nsofor when as a Judge on the  Court of Appeal, he gave a dissenting judgement, in favour of Buhari, during one of his many court battles to become the President. But, if so, others ask, why did Buhari not extend such goodwill to the, forcefully, retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Hon.  Justice Walter Onnoghen, who, also, gave a dissenting judgement in Buhari’s favour?

The Buhari Government, not only embarrassingly delayed   Onnoghen’s confirmation   as the CJN, he was humiliated out of office, thereafter.

However, Buhari did not re-appoint Nsofor as an Ambassador for a second term. Nsofor was waiting for his successor to be announced when he died at the age of 87.

Those who knew him  describe him as a brilliant, no- nonsense Judge, who remained as sharp as a razor until his death.